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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Monday - August 06, 2007

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Deer Resistant
Title: Protecting guavas from deer
Answered by: Joe Marcus

QUESTION:

I have large guavas that the deer love to tear up rubbing their new antlers. When do I need to re-cover the plants with anti-deer nets to be sure to get ahead of them? One night too late and they are destroyed.

ANSWER:

Deer begin to shed the "velvet" on their antlers in mid- to late-September or even early October in your area. The white-tail deer rut begins around October 1st and continues until around mid January. You should not have a problem if you begin protecting your susceptible plants in early September and continue protecting them through the duration of the rut.
 

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